Key operated switch mechanism



y 8, 1968 e. P. PATRIQUIN 3,385,086

KEY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet f3INVENTOR. GEORGE F. PATRIQUIN BY 5M ATTORNEY May 28, 1968 G. P PATRIQUINKEY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 17, 1966INVENTOR. GEO RGE I? PATR IQUIN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,385,086KEY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM George P. Patriquin, Gardner, Mass.,assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass, a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Feb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,166 8 Claims. (Cl.70-364) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch operating device comprisinga housing, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in the housing, the plughaving a keyway, and a plurality of switch operator cams rotatablymounted on the plug in a space defined between the plug and the housing,lock pins movably mounted in cross bores extending through the housing,the cams and into the plug, the combination including key meansinser-table into a keyway formed in the plug for aligning the lock pinsin a selected manner whereby when the junction of the lock pins in across bore is disposed at the junction of the plug and cam, the cam willremain stationary when the plug is rotated, and when the pin junction isdisposed at the shear line between the cam and the housing, the cam willrotate with the plug.

This invention relates to a lock device, and more particularly to a keyoperated lock device of the type in which a plurality of keys mayoperate the lock.

Still further, this invention relates to a recording type key operatedlock device wherein a series of keys may be utilized to operate a lock,the lock having switching means which records or identifies theparticular key utilized to operate the lock device.

Devices of the class described are often used to monitor the dispensingof supplies, such as fuel oil. It is necessary, for instance in a fueloil depot, to identify the driver or drivers who have refilled theirtrucks. In most cases, this function is executed by an operator whorefuels or refills a truck and records the identity of the truck, or ofthe driver or truckman. More recently, attempts have been made toautomate fuel dispensing stations, providing anthorized truckers withmeans for starting and stopping the oil flow, the identifying functionbeing carried out by a complex punch card system.

Other read-out or identifying lock systems have, in the past, beenproposed. However, all of these systems have been cumbersome,exceedingly complex in their operation, readily susceptible to breakdownand particularly limited in the number of different identificationswhich they are able to perform.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of this invention to providea simple, eflicient and high security lock device which closes apredetermined series of switches in accordance with the key utilized tooperate the look.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock having meansto identify the key used to operate the lock, such identifying means, inaddition to its idenifying function augmenting the security of the lockdevice.

Still a further object of the inventionis the provision of a lock whichhas, in lieu of or in addition to the usual rotatable plug, a series ofindividually actuatable switch operating cams, certain of the cams beingrotatable with the plug and other of the cams remaining stationary withthe lock casing, depending upon the key employed.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a highsecurity lock having a series of selectively actuatable switch operatingcams, certain of which will move when the plug is rotated and others ofwhich will remain stationary when the plug is rotated, the identity ofthe 3,385,085 Patented May 28, 1968 moving and stationary cams dependingupon the key which is employed to operate the device.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of a locking device in accordancewith the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the parts after rotationof the lock plug;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 taken after partial rotation ofthe lock plug;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the lock components of the device;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a view of the embodiment of FIGURE 8 showing the position ofthe parts after rotation of the plug.

In accordance with the invention, there is shown a lock assembly 10including a front plate 11, the lock being shown mounted on a panel 12.The panel is provided with a central aperture 13, through which the bodyof the lock may pass, and a pair of spaced apertures 14, 15 within whichthe rotation resisting lugs 16, 17 of the front plate 11 are received.

The front plate 11 includes a threaded inner bore 18, which is threadedover the front portion 19 of the lock housing 20. A threaded bezel 21 istightened against the inner face of the panel 12, thus firmly andnon-rotatively locking the housing 20 and the front plate 11 to thepanel.

The housing 20 comprises a cylindrical front portion 22 and an upper,generally semi-cylindrical rear portion 23. The housing is provided withan axial bore 24, the forwardmost end of which is recessed as at 25 toreceive the enlarged end portion 26 of the lock plug 27. The plug iscylindrical and extends substantially the entire length of the housing.

The housing 20 is provided with a series of locking bores 28 extendingradially from the housing into the plug and intersecting the keyway 29which is formed axially within the plug. Into each of the bores 28 thereare charged driver and follower pins 29', 30, respectively, inaccordance with standard practice, the pins being pressed radiallytoward the keyway by driver springs 31.

One end of each of the driver springs 31 is biased against a followerpin 30, the opposite ends of the springs being biased against a slidemember 32 carried within an undercut groove 33 formed in the housing.

It will thus be seen that to the point described, the forward bores,tumbler pins and springs (six being shown in the illustrated embodiment)act in the conventional manner to lock the plug against rotation. Aproperly bitted key will raise these pins to the shear line definedbetween the casing and the plug and, in this position, will notinterfere with rotary movement of the plug.

In addition to the mechanism previously described, the plug, which ispreferably elongated as contrasted with usual plugs, carries a series ofswitch operating cams 34 and a master cam 35. The switch operating cams,as may be best seen from FIGURES 3 through 6, comprise fiat, preferablymetallic elements, and include a switch operating end 36. The camsinclude a generally annular shoulder portion 37 having a central bore38, the bore being sized to be rotatably seated on the cylindrical plug.

The switch operating cams are stacked in side-by-side position on theplug and are maintained against axial movement with respect to the plugby an end plate 39 which is provided with a central aperture 40 sleevedover the plug, the plate being fixed to the casing by a machine screw 41passing through the plate and threaded into a tapped aperture in thecasing.

A second series of cross bores 42 extends radially through the casing,the annular portions 37 of the switch cams, and thence into the portionsof the plug which extend rearwardly of the portion 22 of the housing. Itwill be seen that these cross bores comprise, collectively, boreportions 43 in the casing, apertures 44 in the annular portions 37 ofthe cams, and bore portions 45 in the plug, the bore portions 45intersecting the keyway of the plug.

Master cam 35 is affixed to the inner end 47 of the plug, as by machinescrews 48.

Each of the bores of the second series is provided with at least two pintumblers, namely driver tumblers 50 and follower tumblers 51. Thetumblers in the bores of the second series are pressed inwardly towardthe plug by driver springs 52, the outer ends of the driver springsbearing against the previously described slide plate 32.

Switch means are provided in the path of movement of the switch cams 36and optionally, but preferably, also in the path of movement of themaster cam 35. Such switch means may be of any conventional form but inthe present embodiment comprises an insulated casing carrying resilientcontact 61 normally spaced from moving contact 62. The contact 62 mayinclude a rotatable follower surface 63 which cooperates with camsurfaces 64, 64 of the cam means 36 to shift the movable follower intocontact with the resilient follower, the latter follower optionally butpreferably also being permitted a range of inward movement. It will thusbe evident that when one or more of the cams 36 is rotated through asufiicient angle, the switch or switches disposed in the path of themoved contact or contacts will be closed.

Returning now to FIGURES 3 to 6 particularly, the lock plug may berotated only if the junction between the pins in the first series ofcross bores 28 is aligned with the shear line defined by the outerperiphery of the plug.

It will be further observed that despite the proper alignment of thepins in the cross bores of first series, the plug may not be rotatedunless the junction between the driver and follower pins of the secondseries is located either at the inner circumference of the casing, i.e.,the inner radial end of the bores 43, or at the periphery of the plug27. Thus, it will be seen that the pins in the second series of crossbores 42 serve a security function.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, the junction between the driver and follower pins ina cross bore 42 is shown to be aligned at the inner circumference of thecasing. It is understood that this alignment results from the use of akey K which is properly bitted to achieve the desired alignment of allof the pins in the first series of cross bores 28 and the selectedalignment of the pins in the second series.

In FIGURE 3 it will be evident that if all of the other pins are alignedto permit rotation of the plug, the plug 27, when rotated, will carrywith it the switch cam 36. This is due to the fact that driver pin 50 inthis particular cross bore lies within the plug and also within theaperture 44 in the annular portion of the cam. Thus, in elfect, thisdriver pin keys the cam to the plug.

In contrast, the driver pin 50 in the illustration of FIG- URE 5 hasbeen aligned by the key K so that the outermost end of the driver pin isaligned with the periphery of the plug 27. In this position the followerpin 51 includes portions which lie within the casing and other portionswhich lie within the aperture 44 of the cam 36.

In the illustration of FIGURE 5, the follower pin 51 keys the cam 36 tothe casing. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 6, when the plug is rotated, the cam36 will remain in its initial position notwithstanding the rotation ofthe plug.

From the foregoing it will be evident that no rotation will be possibleunless the following situation exists:

(a) The junction of all of the pins in the bores of the first series arealigned at the shear line defined between the casing and the plug; and

(b) The junctions of all of the pins in the bores of the second seriesare aligned either at the periphery of the plug or at the innerperiphery of the casing.

It will be readily recognized that by proper key design, any one or moreof the switching cams may be selectively made to remain stationaryduring rotation of the plug or to rotate during rotation of the plug, byvarying the depth of cut of the key aligned with the selected switch camto locate the junction of the tumbler pins which cooperate with theparticular cam. A large number of permutations and combinations ofmovable and stationary cams permitted by this arrangement provides ahigh degree of flexibility, whereby a large number of separatelyidentifiable keys may be used to operate a single lock.

The embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9, wherein like parts have been givenlike reference numerals, employs a modified switch operator cam 34a,which gives still further flexibility to the system.

In this embodiment, one or more of the cams 34a includes an offsetshoulder portion 34b which, in the locked position, lies adjacent afixed shoulder 20a of the housing 20. When a key is inserted whichshifts the driver and follower pins 50, 51 to the position shown in FIG-URE 8, it will be evident that the cam 34:: is keyed by pin 50 to rotatewith the plug 27.

In view of this driving connection between plug and cam and the opposeddisposition of the shoulders 34b of the cam and 20a of the housing, aclockwise rotation of the plug is positively prevented. Counterclockwise rota tion of the plug and cam (when viewed as shown in FIG-URE 8) is not prevented, the rotated plug and cam being depicted inFIGURE 9.

I claim:

1. A switch operating device comprising a housing, a cylindrical plugrotatably mounted in said housing, said plug having a keyway, aplurality of switch operator cams rotatably mounted on said plug, saidcams having laterally extending switch operator portions, a plurality ofparallel cross bores, each of said bores extending radially from saidcasing through a different one of said cams and entering said keyway,said cross bores being disposed in alignment with said operatorportions, a plurality of end abutting tumblers in each of said crossbores, and key means insertable into said keyway for selectivelyaligning the abutting ends of the tumblers in at least one of said crossbores with the periphery of said plug, and in at least one other saidcross bore with the periphery of said cam.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 and including a master cam memberfixed to said plug.

3. A switch operating device comprising a housing having an axial bore,a generally cylindrical plug member mounted for rotation in said boreand including a keyway, outer peripheral portions of said plug memberbeing spaced from the inner surface of said bore, said portions of saidplug and bore defining a parti-annular space, a plurality of switchoperator cams rotatably mounted on said plug, said cams includingarcuate segments disposed in said parti-annular space and laterallyextending switch operator portions, a series of cross bores eachextending from said housing through a different one of said segments andinto said plug in communication with said keyway, said bores beingaligned with said operator portions, a pair of end abuttinglock'tumblers in each of said cross bores, spring means in said crossbores urging said tumblers toward said plug, and key means .insertableinto said keyway for shifting said tumblers radially, to align theabutting ends of a first pair of said tumblers with the periphery ofsaid plug and the abutting ends of a second pair of said tumblers withsaid inner surface of said bore, whereby, upon rotation of said plug,the cam having said first pair of tumblers will remain stationary andthe cam having said second pair of tumblers will rotate with said plug.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 and including auxiliary lockingmeans for preventing relative rotation of said plug housing, said keymeans including means for releasing said auxiliary locking means.

5. A switch operating device comprising a cylindrical plug having anaxial keyway, first and second switch operator cams rotatably mounted onsaid plug, first and second cross bores extending radially through saidfirst and second cams, respectively, into said keyway of said plug, apair of end abutting lock pins in said first and second cross bores, andkey means insertable into said keyway for aligning the abutting ends ofthe pins in said first bore with the periphery of said plug, and theabutting ends of the pins in said second bore with an outer surface ofsaid second cam, whereby when said plug is rotated by said key meanssaid plug is free to rotate relative to said first switch operator camand said second switch operator cam is fixed for rotation with said plugby said lock pins.

6. A key operated switch assembly comprising a casing having a bore, aplug rotatably mounted in said bore, a keyway in said plug, lockingmeans for preventing rela tive rotation of said plug and easing, aplurality of sideby-side disposed switch operator cams, each including aparti-cylindrical base portion having an axial bore formed therein, saidcams being rotatably mounted on said plug with said plug extendingthrough said bores of said cams, a plurality of radially extending crossbores extending from said casing through said annular portions of saidcams and into said plug in communication with said keyway, a pluralityof pin tumblers disposed in each of said radial bores, spring means insaid casing urging said tumblers inwardly toward said keyway, and keymeans for unlocking said locking means and for aligning the junctions ofcertain of the pins at the level of the periphery of said plug and atthe junctions of others of said pins at the outer level of said annularportion of said cams.

7. A key operated switch assembly for selectively operating one of aplurality of circuits in accordance with the key employed, comprising acasing having a bore, a plug mounted for rotation in said bore, saidplug having an axial keyway, locking means for preventing relativerotation of said plug and bore, a plurality of switch operator meansmounted on said plug for rotation relative thereto, a plurality of crossbores aligned in parallelism with each other, said cross bores extendingradially from said casing through a different one of said operator meansand into said keyway of said plug, a pair of tumbler pins reciprocablymounted in each said cross bores in end-toend relation, spring means insaid casing biasing said pairs toward said plug, and key meansinsertable into said keyway including portions for releasing said lockmeans and other portions for lifting said pairs of pins in said crossbores to align the junction of the pins of at least one of said pairswith the periphery of said plug and the junction of the pins of at leastone of said pairs with the inner circumference of said casing.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said key means aligns thejunctions of certain of said pins with the periphery of said plug andthe junctions of all of the other said pins with the inner circumferenceof said casing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,752 2/1917 Voight -385 X1,390,017 9/1921 Bryce 70-434 1,565,557 12/1925 Fremon 70-382 X1,788,834 1/1931 Hurd 70-337 X 1,855,607 4/1932 Lyons 70-369 2,097,40710/1937 Spinello 70-378 X 2,113,007 4/1938 Swanson 70-382 X MARVIN A.CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

